Dear Editor,
On Saturday morning one of my fifth grade students I have been mentoring for the last six months came to the house around nine o'clock. He asked me if I would take him to his grandfather's house to get his bike. When we got there his grandfather told him it was at his grandmother's house, and all it needed was some air in the tire.
We got the bike and headed to the service station, only to find out it needed a tube.On the way back I told him we would get it fixed Monday. I then asked him what was he going to do the rest of the day. He said he did not know, and I suggested he go to the city swimming pool.
To my surprise he asked me where were the pool. I stopped the truck and asked him was he serious. As I questioned this six grade child I became so angry I had to hold my emotions.
How could this be? I said how would you like to go today? He was so elated about the idea he wanted to go right then. I told him I would pick him up at after lunch and would both will go swimming.
After getting to the poll there was a white lady there I know, and she introduced me to her grandson. She lives outside the city limits what we call the county, although Yazoo City is the county also, which the supervisors have full control to improve and grow this community.
She told me she was amazed to know we had a public pool in Yaooo City. She had been taking her grandson to a hotel and renting a room for 87 dollars just so her grandson could swim.
My mind began to wonder, and it all came back to the lack of recreation we have in this community and who is responsible for it this – the city and the county. No matter how I cut this cake, the Board of Supervisors is the weakest link in bringing this community together. The city bears the blame as well.
I had to stop and ask myself a question, “how did this happen in a matter of hours that a black and a white on the same day revealed to me what they had in common?” As I always do when my knowledge gets beyond my understanding, I praedy and ask the Lord to guide me. I picked up my Bible and it led me to four books, (Deuteronomy 19: 15- One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of a crime,or offense he may have committed . A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (Proverbs 12:17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies)(Acts 1:7-8 He said to them, it is not for you to know the times or the dates the Father has set His authority . But you will receive power when the Holly Spirit comes to you)(Jonah 1:-8 Tell us who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where you come from? What is your country? From what people are you? He answered I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord. This terrified them and they asked, what have you done? They knew he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them so. You cannot run away from God when He charge you with a task.)
This was an amazing an eye opening day for me and as usual I will ask God to guide me, and I will honor the task He charged me with. It is every citizen's Christian duty to help revive Yazoo.
IF NOT NOW WHEN?
Coach Johnny Staples
